Pacific Fusion’s latest prototype packs 440 gigawatts into an 80-nanosecond burst

On Tuesday, Pacific Fusion revealed its latest prototype of a pulser module, a significant step towards the construction of its demonstration fusion power plant, which is set to commence this summer. The results from this compact, shipping container-sized prototype were impressive enough to secure another segment of the company's Series A funding, surpassing $1 billion, as disclosed exclusively to TechCrunch. While specifics regarding the funding segment were not provided, it's clear that Pacific Fusion stands as one of the most well-capitalized startups in the fusion sector. Utilizing a tranche-based funding model, which is more common in biotech, has allowed Pacific Fusion to concentrate on reaching technical goals without the constant distraction of fundraising. "This approach enables us to focus on the future instead of spending significant time seeking capital," explained Keith LeChien, CTO of Pacific Fusion. The company is exploring inertial confinement fusion, employing 156 pulser modules to deliver a powerful electric pulse to a small fuel target in the fusion chamber. This pulse will create a magnetic field around a fuel pellet, compressing it until atomic fusion occurs, releasing vast amounts of energy. The next hurdle for Pacific Fusion is to evolve from the sub-scale prototype to a full-sized pulser module, which is crucial for the demonstration power plant. LeChien emphasized the urgency of their project, stating, "We’ll start construction on the facility this summer," highlighting the competitive landscape of fusion power development. Currently, inertial confinement is the only method that has achieved a controlled fusion reaction producing more energy than was initially required, a landmark known as scientific breakeven. This milestone has only been accomplished once at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Unlike NIF, which relies on expensive laser technology, Pacific Fusion aims to utilize thousands of more affordable electrical switches and capacitors to generate rapid, precisely timed electrical pulses of about 100 nanoseconds. The challenge lies in ensuring these capacitors discharge their energy at the exact moment needed to efficiently compress the fuel pellet and ignite the fusion reaction. The upcoming demonstration device will incorporate 156 full-size pulser modules, each containing 32 circular stages and surrounded by 10 energy-storing bricks. The recently tested prototype, a third the size of the full module, successfully delivered 440 gigawatts of peak power in just 80 nanoseconds, meeting all requirements for scaling up to the larger demonstration system. Once operational, Pacific Fusion plans to advance beyond scientific breakeven directly to facility breakeven, where the demonstration device will generate sufficient energy to power the entire operation. "Every fusion approach must navigate this critical milestone," LeChien concluded. "It represents the next significant advancement in fusion energy."